The inside story on Ezri Konsa's Charlton Athletic career - from those people who played key roles in his development and first-team milestone moments
Paid subscribers can hear the full exclusive interview with Jason Euell discussing England international's development with Addicks
“It was about managing Ezri’s frustration in training and games - because he always wanted himself and everyone else to do well. You can see now he does that extremely well. It is about habits that players pick up. It can become a positive habit - knowing how to control frustration.”
Jason Euell is explaining his reasoning behind when he made Ezri Konsa the captain of Charlton Athletic’s U16 team.
The Newham-born player, 15 at the time, took on the responsibility in the second half of his first season playing in the older age group.
Ezri Konsa in action for England in their recent friendly against New Zealand in Florida/Picture: Alamy
Whatever lessons Konsa needed to learn, he learned them. Whatever tests came his way, he passed them. Any adversity was overcome.
It is 12 years since Euell handed Konsa the armband. Now he is an England international, capped 19 times, and in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for their World Cup campaign, which starts against Croatia on Wednesday.
Konsa won the Europa League trophy with Aston Villa last month. He has played 231 Premier League matches. He is in his prime.
Konsa signed for Charlton at the age of 11 following a six-week trial in 2008. In February 2018, already a first-team regular by the time he had turned 20, he explained to the South London Press why he had the word ‘blessed’ tattooed on the side of his left hand.
“I feel very fortunate to be in this position right now - playing football for Charlton Athletic. There are a lot of kids my age, and younger, who want to get into my position.
“The area where I was growing up there was a lot of crimes and gangs. But I wouldn’t like to say I would have got caught up in anything if it wasn’t for football. I’ve got an older brother who looks after me a lot.”
